| Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness | |
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IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)
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| Location | Graham / Pinal counties, Arizona, USA |
| Nearest city | Dudleyville, Arizona |
| Area | 19,700 acres (80 km2) |
| Established | 1984 |
| Governing body | U.S. Bureau of Land Management |
Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness is a 19,410 acre (78.5 km²) wilderness area located in the U.S. State of Arizona. It forms the northwest border of the Galiuro Mountain range. The wilderness is administered by the BLM and is located northeast of Mammoth, Arizona in Graham and Pinal counties, about 120 miles southeast of Phoenix. The wilderness includes the 11-mile long Aravaipa Canyon, the surrounding tablelands and nine side canyons.
The Nature Conservancy's Aravaipa Canyon Preserve protects 7,000 acres (28 km²) of private land and is contiguous with the BLM wilderness area. Pedestrian access to the preserve is allowed only with prior authorization from Preserve staff.
Contents |
From Phoenix, take US Highway 60 to Superior. At Superior, take State Highway 177 to Winkelman. At Winkelman, take State Highway 77 south for 11 miles to Aravaipa Road. Follow Aravaipa Road 12 miles east to the trailhead. Access to the east end of the wilderness is west of Klondyke. A high-clearance vehicle is needed to reach the east trailhead.
At both ends, travel in the canyon requires wading in Aravaipa Creek.
7½ minute: Booger Canyon, Brandenburg Mountain, Holy Joe Peak, Oak Grove Canyon
A permit is required to enter Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness. Use is limited to 50 people per day. Permits can be obtained via the Web.